"I've got a microphone but I'm not going to sing so don't worry!" joked Victoria Beckham, four and a half months pregnant, chic and still svelte in oatmeal cashmere, welcoming the fashion pack to her intimate AW11 presentation.
How things have changed in the six seasons since she started designing. Back then, the clothes were skintight while VB herself was uptight, nervous about this tricky career transition. No more! "I've grown and evolved as both a person and a designer", she explained from the front row, talking through each piece of the collection, "and as I've become more confident in my own skin, I've realised I want to be comfortable too."
What this actually means is a new look for her signature dresses: hemlines are longer, necklines are higher and everything is just a bit looser, while colours are subtler and softer. As always, Beckham added something else to the mix - last season it was bags; this time, four coats. One of these; sleek and black, pleated from waist to knee - was an absolute winner, but they all looked pretty good in their simplicity. "I designed everything before I knew I was pregnant," she said at the end. "A few seasons ago I'd have been afraid of it all. And now I can't wait to fit into it again!"